A significant range extension for the Magnificent BroodfrogPseudophryne covacevichae, with comments on similarity withP. major, and additional data on the distribution ofUperoleia altissima

2015·2.1 MB·English

by  Stephen Zozaya

A significant range extension for the
Pseudophryne
Magnificent Broodfrog
covacevichae
, with comments on similarity
P. major
with , and additional data on the
Uperoleia altissima
distribution of
Stephen M. Zozaya and Conrad J. Hoskin
Centre for Tropical Biodiversity and Climate Change, College of Marine and Environmental Sciences,
James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia.
Corresponding author email: [email protected]
T
C
The Magnificent Broodfrog Pseudophryne covacevichae Ingram and Corben 1994 is a Vulnerable frog
A species that was believed to be highly localised in the Ravenshoe region of the southern Atherton
Tableland, north Queensland. Here we extend the known range of P. covacevichae approximately 160
R
km south-southeast to the Paluma Range. This represents a significant range extension and we point
T
out the need for surveys in the intervening upland open forests, and genetic analysis of population
S structure of this threatened species. Additionally, we extend the range of Uperoleia altissima Davies et
B al. 1993 south to the Paluma Range, and provide additional information on its distribution and habitat.
We also discuss the need for detailed analysis of the relationship between P. covacevichae and the
A
phenotypically similar species P. major Parker 1940.
Key words: Paluma Range, frog, vulnerable, Queensland, Pseudophryne major, Uperoleia altissima
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7882/AZ.2014.041:
Introduction
The Magnificent Broodfrog Pseudophryne covacevichae calling from the stream banks and a nearby seepage area.
Ingram and Corben 1994 is a myobatrachid frog known Two male Pseudophryne were located and observed and
only from scattered sites above 800 m elevation in a highly both were found attending eggs in shallow burrows (Fig.
localised area in the vicinity of Ravenshoe and Herberton, 2). Males were still calling on the 12 April 2013. The frogs
on the southern Atherton Tablelands in north Queensland were identified as P. covacevichae based on the red, orange,
(Dennis and McDonald 2012; Vanderduys 2012; Anstis or rufous brown dorsal colouration that forms a connected
2013; Cogger 2014). Breeding occurs from October to cap and vertebral stripe, terminating in a yellow line that
March when males call from seepages and ephemeral inserts into a yellow cloacal patch (Figs. 2 and 3) (Ingram
creeks in open eucalypt forests following heavy rains and Corben 1994; McDonald et al. 2000; Anstis 2013).
(McDonald et al. 2000; Anstis 2013). Eggs are deposited The call was also consistent with P. covacevichae; however,
terrestrially beneath vegetation or in nests constructed
by males, which typically attend the eggs until hatching,
when larvae are washed into pools to complete an aquatic
tadpole stage (McDonald et al. 2000; Anstis 2013). Because
of its localised and fragmented distribution, the species
is classified as Vulnerable under both the Queensland
Nature Conservation Act 1994 and the Federal Environment
Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, and as
Endangered by the IUCN (Dennis and McDonald 2012).
Observations
On 9th February 2013, a male Pseudophryne was heard
calling in dry sclerophyll forest on the western slopes
of Mt Spec, Paluma Range (19.010˚S, 146.099˚E), at
approximately 860 m elevation. The frog was found calling
Figure 1. Habitat for Pseudophryne covacevichae and Uperoleia
from a depression in accumulated leaf-litter adjacent to
altissima near an ephemeral stream on the western slopes of
a small, ephemeral stream (Fig. 1). On 20 February 2013
Mt Spec, Paluma Range. The arrow indicates the location of
the site was revisited and several dozen males were heard
the P. covacevichae and eggs pictured in Fig. 2.
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2015 Zoologist volume 37 (3) 365
Zozaya & Hoskin
the calls of this species and P. major are similar (see below).
Another upland Wet Tropics frog, Uperoleia altissima
Davies et al. 1993, was observed at the same site as P.
covacevichae and at a number of nearby dry forest sites
between 500–860 m elevation (Figs. 5A and 6). Genetic
analysis has confirmed the identification of these frogs
as U. altissima (R. Catullo pers. comm. 2014, ANU).
In recent years we have also recorded U. altissima from
relatively low elevation (170–300 m) sandstone habitats
in the Laura and Hopevale regions (Fig. 5B and 6), where
we have observed the species in seepage areas on sandy
soils amongst sandstone escarpment.
Significance of findings
Figure 2. Male Pseudophryne covacevichae attending eggs These records extend the known distribution of P.
in a shallow burrow in leaf-litter. covacevichae 160 km south-southeast and represent the
first record of any Pseudophryne from the Paluma Range
(Fig. 4). To date the species has been found only at a single
locality in the uplands: a small, ephemeral creek and a
nearby seepage area in tall sclerophyll forest with a grassy
understory. This habitat type is extensive in the Paluma
Range, suggesting that P. covacevichae is possibly more
widespread in the area. Further, there are extensive areas of
upland sclerophyll forest with a grassy understory between
the Paluma Range and the Ravenshoe area (e.g., Seaview
Range, Kirrama Range, Koombooloomba Dam area) and
these need to be surveyed thoroughly for P. covacevichae
following summer rains. Given the disjunct distribution of
P. covacevichae on a fine scale (5 disjunct populations are
recognised in the Ravenshoe–Herberton area (Dennis and
McDonald 2012)) and now more broadly, genetic analysis
of population structure would provide important data for
Figure 3. Male Pseudophryne covacevichae from the
management of this threatened species.
Paluma Range.
We have also extended the known range of Uperoleia
altissima 105 km south-east. This species is usually cited
as not occurring south of the Atherton Tableland (e.g.,
Anstis 2013), but several records exist from further south
in the Herbert River area (Atlas of Living Australia), and
here we report them as far south as the Paluma Range.
Over recent years the species has also been found by
ourselves and others north of the Wet Tropics, in the Laura
(e.g., 15.7803˚S, 144.2734˚E) and Hopevale areas (e.g.,
15.3009˚S, 145.003˚E). In the Wet Tropics, U. altissima
is found in open forests at elevations above 500 m, where
they breed in seepages, small creeks, low-lying areas prone
to flooding, and other wetland habitats. In contrast, the
individuals that we have observed in the Laura and
Hopevale areas have been at relatively low elevations (170–
300 m) in seepage areas around sandstone outcrops. While
significant, these range extensions are less interesting than
for P. covacevichae because the species is more widespread
and is not listed as threatened.
Neither P. covacevichae nor U. altissima have been
previously detected in the Paluma Range. The Paluma
sites are near an all-weather road that is easily accessible
Figure 4. Known localities for Pseudophryne covacevichae and frequently used by wildlife enthusiasts. However, the
(black circles) and Pseudophryne major (black triangles) rainforests at Paluma have attracted a lot more survey
in north-eastern Queensland. These records are a attention than the sclerophyll forests on the west of the
combination of our own data and those acquired from range. Additionally, P. covacevichae has specific habitat
Atlas of Living Australia. requirements, making it highly localised, and appears to
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366 Zoologist volume 37 (3) 2015
Pseudophryne covacevichae range extension
Figure 6. Known localities for Uperoleia altissima (black
circles). These records are a combination of our own data
and those acquired from Atlas of Living Australia.
difference in breeding season is also not diagnostic. While
it may hold in some parts of its range that P. major
typically breeds in autumn and winter, we have recorded
it breeding in summer at several localities (e.g., Blackdown
Tableland, Mt Abbot). In particular, rainfall in northern
parts of the range of P. major (i.e., mid-east and central-
east Queensland) falls largely in the summer wet season,
Figure 5. Male Uperoleia altissima from the Paluma Range and breeding opportunities would be rare in the winter
(A) and the Laura area (B). dry season. Further, the ranges of the two species are not
call only when conditions are suitable. Therefore, it is as geographically separate as once thought: Pseudophryne
easily missed if surveys are not conducted at the right major is now known to occur fairly continuously up the
place and at the right time. Uperoleia altissima is more Queensland coast to about Mackay and then as several
conspicuous and widespread than P. covacevichae, but disjunct upland populations to the north (including Cape
is morphologically similar, and somewhat acoustically Upstart and Mt Abbot, CJH unpub. data) and to the
similar, to two other species, U. mimula and U. lithomoda, north-west in the White Mountains area (Kutt et al. 2005).
and could have been previously misidentified as these. With P. covacevichae records from Paluma, the known
gap to the northern isolates of P. major is now reduced to
approximately 180 km; not dissimilar to the gap between
Taxonomic notes
northern isolates of P. major or between the Paluma and
Pseudophryne covacevichae was described from the similar Ravenshoe populations of P. covacevichae (Fig. 4). The calls
species P. major Parker 1940 based on colouration (brighter of the two species are considered indistinguishable (Ingram
than P. major) and breeding season (summer vs winter) and Corben 1994); however, a detailed analysis has never
(Ingram and Corben 1994). The Paluma individuals are been performed. Additionally, phylogenetic analysis of P.
generally brightly coloured and were calling in summer. covacevichae will be important in resolving the status of
However, with more knowledge now available than at P. covacevichae. For both calls and genetics, inclusion of
the time of description, it is worth considering these the northern isolates of P. major is essential. Regardless
differences. Some individuals of P. major approach the of the taxonomic status of P. covacevichae, the isolated
brilliant colouration of P. covacevichae (e.g., see photos of P. north Queensland Pseudophryne populations are significant
major in Vanderduys 2012 and Anstis 2013). The supposed management units.
Acknowledgements
SMZ thanks Scott Harte, Stewart Macdonald, and thank Renee Catullo for confirming the identification
Matthew McIntosh for company and assistance in the of the Paluma Uperoleia, and Stewart Macdonald, Eric
field. CJH acknowledges the Queensland Museum Vanderduys, Brad Law, and an anonymous reviewer for
for funding trips to Cape Upstart and Mt Abbot. We comments that improved the manuscript.
Australian
2015 Zoologist volume 37 (3) 367
Zozaya & Hoskin
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